johetsok



(No Model.)

W. H. & 0. B. JOHNSON.

LOCKING LEG FOR BED LOUNGES.

No. 351034. Patented 0ct. 19,1886.

NITED STATES ATENT Fries.

YVILLIAM H. JOHNSON AND OSCAR B. JOHNSON, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, ASSIGNORS TO \VILLIAM F. KUHN, OF SAME PLACE.

LOCKING-LEG FOR BED-LOUNGES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 351,034, dated October 19, 1886.

(No model.)

To all whom it may concern/.-

Be it known that we, WILLIAM H. JOHN- SON and OSCAR B. JOHNSON, residents of Indianapolis, Indiana, have made certain new and USGI'HLIIHPIOVGIDBDIS in Locking-Legs for BedLounges, a description of which is set forth in the following specification, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in the several figures of which like letters indiro cate like parts.

Our invention relates to the construction of legs for bed-lounges; and it consists in an arrangement of devices whereby the leg will automatically open and lock itself in position when the lounge is unfolded and close when the parts of the lounge are folded the one upon the other.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents an end view of the two halves of a bed-lounge frame opened out to form a bed, the leg attached to one side and resting upon the floor, supporting that end of the frame. Fig. 2 is a rear view of the two halves of the frame folded one upon another, the leg-shell screwed to the side of 2 the frame and the leg closed up. Fig. 3 is an inside rear view of the leg, shell and catch, showing the arrangement of the parts with relation to each other when the leg is opened to support the frame and rests upon the floor. Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the relative position of the parts when the leg is unlocked and closed, the loungeframe being folded up, as shown in Fig. 2. Figs. 5 and 6 are modifications in the shape of the gravity-catch and 3 5 top of the leg, showing how the one looks upon the other. Figs. 1 and 2 are drawn upon a smaller scale than the'others.

In detail, Z is the leg, the top of which may be squared, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5, or formed 40 with a small projection to engage a notch in the catch, as shown in Fig. 6. This leg enters through a wide notch in the bottom of the shell I), and has a round'opening into which a boss or projection, 19, on the inside of the case 5 or shell I) enters. This shell has perforated ears for admitting screws, by which it is fastened to the inside of the upper half of the folding lounge-frame, as shown in Fig. 2.

cis a gravity-catch, i s body connected by a 5g narrow neck to a thumb-piece, which remains outside the shell, the neck fitting loosely in a correspondinglyshaped notch in the flange or side of the shell, as shown in Fig. 2. This thumb-piece has a fiat inner surface, which, when the catch is in position to lock the leg, 5 5 rests flatly against the outside of the flange of the shell, and a corresponding flat surface of the catch rests against the flat inside surface of the same flange below, preventing any downward movement of the catch, and when in this position the end of the catch abuts against the side of the leg, looking it firmly in place. The leg is now resting on the floor and is at right angles to the length of the catch. If, now, the lounge-frame be folded over to close it, this reverses the position of the leg and lock. The leg comes uppermost. The gravity-catch falls down of its own weight, taking the position shown in Fig. 4. The leg rotates on the pin and falls down of its own weight, taking a position parallel with the side of the lounge-frame, and is hidden between the frame and the back of thelounge. Opening the lounge causes the leg to rotate backward on its pivot and drop down to the tloor, and the gravity-catch falls down behind it, as shown in Fig. 3 or 5, or upon it,

as shown in Fig. 6, in this last case the notch in the catch closing down over the projection upon the leg, in each case locking the leg in place automatically. The differences between the catches shown in Figs. 3, 5, and 6 are only simple mechanical ones, and no different principle is involved. The one is the mechanical equivalent of the other.

We are aware that locking-legs have been heretofore used on bed-lounges, and of the de vice shown in the Letters Patent issued to Frost, February 22, 1881, and do not claim the invention shown and described therein.

We claini- 9o 1. The leg I, the shell I), having the pivotp, on which the leg rotates, the gravity-catch 0, provided with a contracted neck and fitting in a slot formed in the shell-flange, such catch adapted to rise and fall upon its neck, so as to 5 lock or unlock the leg by the force of its gravity when the lounge-frame is opened or closed, all combined substantially as described.

2. The shell b, having a pivot, 12, on the inside, theleg Z, adapted to rotate upon such I00 pivot, the gravity-catch 0, provided with; a In Witness whereof we have hereunto set contracted neck and fitted in a notch formed our hands this 20th day of October, 1885. in the shell-flange and adapted to lock or un- WM H JOHNSON lock the leg automatically by its own gravity 5 when the lounge-frame to which the leg is secured is opened or closed. and the folding Witnesses: lounge-frame composed of the two partsf and G. P. JACOBS, f, all combined substantially as described. FRANK A. MAUs;

OSCAR B. JOHNSON. 

